|
 Since
Christmas there have been numerous testimonies of the joy of receiving
the Jubilee indulgence ; requested either for oneself or for a deceased
person. And there are in fact many ways of seeking this indulgence,
all of them within our reach.
We have the example of a mother whose son suffers from a serious illness
: on reading the Jubilee bull carefully, she discovered that she could
offer up the time she devotes to the difficult treatment she administers
to her son as a way of receiving the indulgence. She offered this indulgence
for a person she knows and who has recently died. At this very moment
a man has told me that he has just come from Saint Louis d’Antin
– a church near the Gare Saint Lazare in Paris which is one of
the eight churches designated by the Archbishop for the Jubilee. He
made a pilgrimage to this church specially for a television personality
whose death was announced a few days ago.
So, not only can we ask for and receive a Jubilee plenary indulgence
for ourselves, but we can also request one and offer it for the souls
of the departed. By doing this, according to the Jubilee Decree, we
accomplish " a special act of supernatural charity, by virtue of
the link through which, in the mystical Body of Christ, the faithful
who are still making the pilgrimage on earth are united with those who
have completed their earthly pilgrimage. " And do you know how
often you can receive an indulgence ? Up to once a day ! So let us examine
on what conditions and how to go about it ; where ? when ?
how ?
HOW TO
OBTAIN THE JUBILEE INDULGENCE
1°
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION) IN ALL CASES
in addition to receiving the Eucharist and praying for the Pope’s
intentions. It is not necessary to make one’s confession each time
one asks for an indulgence. But we are asked " to receive the grace
of the sacrament of Reconciliation frequently in order to make progress
in the conversion and purity of our hearts " (Decree).
However, it is required that one should participate in the celebration
of the Eucharist on the same day that one requests the indulgence (but
not necessarily in the " place " of the pilgrimage. (See following
text)
2°
THESE TWO HIGH POINTS
must be combined above all with witness to communion with the Church,
expressed by prayer for the intentions of the Roman Pontiff as well
as acts of charity and penance (see above). These acts should intend
to be the expression of that true conversion of heart which leads to
communion with Christ in the sacraments… "
" Christ is the indulgence and the victim offered for our sins
". The Holy Spirit " which is the forgiveness of sin "
is poured into our hearts through the Eucharist and Confession ; he
moves us to " a filial and trusting encounter with the Father of
all Mercies ". The result of this encounter will find expression
in " undertakings of conversion and renewal ", " ecclesial
communion " and " charity towards our brothers and sisters
".
3°
WHICH PILGRIMAGES TO MAKE ? WHICH CHURCHES TO VISIT ?
A – Rome :
Visit one of the 4 so-called " Patriarchal " Basilicas, namely
:
- Saint Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican
- The Lateran, Saint Saviour’s Basilica
- Saint Mary Major
- Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls
Also Holy Cross of Jerusalem, Saint Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, The
Madonna of Divine Love, the Christian Catacombs.
B – Holy Land
:
The Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem ;
The Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem ;
The Church of the Annunciation , in Nazareth.
C – In every diocese
in the world
1° The Cathedral
2° Certain other churches, chapels or places of pilgrimage designated
by the Bishop.
4°
WHAT TO DO IN THE CHURCH ?
- attend the Holy Mass
- join in a liturgical celebration such as Lauds, or Vespers..
- undertake a pious exercice such as the Stations of the Cross, the
Rosary, the Hymnos Akathistos…
- or, outside of any common ceremony, a certain period of Eucharistic
adoration and pious meditation, to be concluded by the Our Father, the
Creed and a prayer to the Virgin Mary.
5° OTHER POSSIBLE WAYS (without
a pilgrimage or visit to a specific church)
It is of course necessary to have made one’s confession recently
as stipulated in 1° and to have received Holy Communion on the day.
And, as stated in 4°, it is necessary to pray for the Holy Father’s
intentions and to say the prayers of the Christian faith in order to
show one’s communion with the Church (Our Father, Creed, Prayer
addressed to Our Lady).
A. Visits to persons
in need : The Sick, Prisoners, The Elderly and the Lonely, Handicapped
people, etc.
B. Generous penitential initiatives :
For example, abstaining from superfluous things for a day :
like tobacco, alcoholic drinks ; fasting according to the general norms
of the Church
and giving a proportionate amount to the poor.
C. Donation of a large
amount to religious and social works. Particularly for the benefit
of abandoned children ; young people in difficulty ; needy elderly people
;
foreigners in the countries where they are seeking better living conditions…
D. Devoting a suitable
length of free time to activities which are in the interests
of the community, or other comparable forms of personal sacrifice.
To find out more :
-
Asking for an Indulgence only for oneself – or for others also
?
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